Where to Find DIY Tips

There is a certain amount of satisfaction when you do things yourself. It doesn’t matter if it’s something simple like making a holiday card, or building a shelf, or installing a garage door. DIY gives you pride and confidence. That being said, unless you are known for ingenuity, you will need someone to show you how things are done. I can’t do it, at least not properly. However, I can show you who can.

I understand that some people consider searching for help online as cheating and they try to wing it themselves. The truth of the matter is, you will improve 10 times faster if you get inspiration and guidance from others. It’s just like wannabe punters search for an online betting guide when they want to start betting or wannabe ballerinas go to a ballet school. Of course, you can try to really do it all yourself, but why reinvent the wheel?

DIY Sites

Do-It-Yourself websites are a great place to find ideas on solving a particular problem, or inspiring you to undertake a new project. They give you advice on making your closet space work, utilizing junk to the fullest, and give you the list of resources you may need and where to get them. Blogs tend to focus on a particular niche.

I will have to take a few points off of them simply because they don’t usually offer step-by-step instructions for bigger projects, and most of their projects are focused on home improvement, rather than creating something new. There are sites and posts that will show you how to build a tumble-drier from scratch, but you will likely not find then here.

Wiki How

This is, actually, my least favorite option. While the instructions are very clear and easy to follow, their articles often rely on common sense and lack substance. The illustrations can be borderline childish and the text is frequently vague, without diving into the specifics of the problem. Imagine a tutorial about swimming with tips like “Don’t drown.” There are a few good ones there, which is why it still made it on this list.

YouTube

This is my personal favorite. You can simply search YouTube for DIY channels, or just type what your project is. For example, the search terms ‘installing a neon light bulb’ will give you the option of learning how to install a neon sign, among other things.

They are not as narrowly specialized as DIY sites and blogs, because there is a bunch of people online that want to share their knowledge about forging, knitting, electricity, sculpting, and fashion design, by using tools that are at your disposal.

Workshops

You can look around message boards and popular social media platforms, looking for groups of DIY enthusiasts. Sometimes, they organize workshops, where you can learn more about a craft in question. While the previous entries on this list rely strictly on your understanding of the material, people at these workshops can help you learn faster by pointing out the mistakes and by praising our progress. It is also a great way to stay motivated – you are not alone in trying to learn something new. Who knows, you may even make a few friends on the way.